Gauhati HC rescinds order issued post-Sept 22 mob violence

The Gauhati High Court today rescinded its order withdrawing all the judicial officers from south Mizoram’s Lunglei judicial district in the wake of the mob attack on the district court buildings, offices and residential quarters on September 22 last.

The order, issued by the Gauhati High Court Registrar General H K Sarma, said that District and Sessions Judge R Thanga, Additional District and Sessions Judge Helen Dawngliani and Civil Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate First Class R Malsawmdawngliana should resume duty in Lunglei immediately.

The order also said that Senior Civil Judge-cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate of Lawngtlai district Laldinpuia Tlau would also now hold circuit court in Lunglei with immediate effect.

Tlau was instructed on September 22 not to hold circuit court in Lunglei district until further order.

Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Ajit Singh, who arrived in Lunglei last evening to take stock of the situation in the district, today issued a statement saying that he met church and NGO leaders as also the people in this southern town and appreciated their concern for the welfare of the people of Lunglei.

He said that he, therefore, deemed it fit to rescind the high court order issued on September 22 for the larger interest and restore the judicial officers in the district.

Justice Singh expressed the hope that the administration would cooperate to the fullest for the welfare of the people of Lunglei.

The Gauhati High Court had withdrawn all the judges in south Mizoram’s Lunglei district and attached them with the District and Sessions Judge, Aizawl district following mob violence in Lunglei district court premises on September 22.

The order came after an irate mob belonging to Zohnuai locality of Lunglei damaged district court buildings with stones and bricks on that day and also ransacked the official residence of the Civil Judge.